CRG Discussion Forum

Camaro Research Group Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: 69Z28-RS on March 14, 2014, 02:02:37 PM

Title: when we can no longer wrench... :)
Post by: 69Z28-RS on March 14, 2014, 02:02:37 PM
In the recent 'How long have you owned your Camaro' thread, it was obvious that a majority of us here are getting a bit 'long in the tooth'; :)   I can say that since I'm in that category myself.. :)
Last night I had my daughters and grand kids over for dinner, and of course they all picked on the 'old guy' as usual.. :)    My funniest daughter even pulled up an image and said 'This is daddy when he has to go to the nursing home'...   I thought I'd post this for you fellas as you might get a kick out of it too.   :)   *but I bet the beds will all be in great repair* ...

Title: Re: when we can no longer wrench... :)
Post by: 69Z28 on March 14, 2014, 03:29:03 PM
That is too funny, but you wouldn't find me in a nursing home, at least my kids 'SAY' they wouldn't put me there, but who knows. Now...on the hand, my wife might. She's 10 years younger then me and has a lot more life in her yet to be worried about me. I'm 60 and as another member told me recently, the wheels are starting to come off.
Title: Re: when we can no longer wrench... :)
Post by: z28z11 on March 14, 2014, 07:03:58 PM
60 here as well. Funny picture -

I've noticed I can't do as much as when I was younger, plus the fact the First Gen Corps (don't pronounce that as "corpse) are getting older by the day. Problem is what you grow up with - they just don't make 'em (and us) like they used to -

Regards,
Steve
Title: Re: when we can no longer wrench... :)
Post by: 69Z28 on March 14, 2014, 07:09:53 PM
Yeah, getting up off the floor is a big problem for me once I get down under a car. If my son is around, which is not much, he just pulls me out by my feet. During the day I am totally alone, no one to help do anything, so working on my car has slowed down...a lot.
Title: Re: when we can no longer wrench... :)
Post by: Rufcar on March 14, 2014, 09:40:59 PM
Im 64 had a heart attack at 60 while in "expensive" care the wife comes to visit and Im down the hall helping the nurses get a 38" bed through a 36" opening, They sent me home next a.m! I was there 36hr!
Title: Re: when we can no longer wrench... :)
Post by: jvb6648 on March 15, 2014, 01:55:33 AM
Come on guys, suck it up, I'll be 65 in June and am still working on heavy equipment, filed for Medicare yesterday.  ;D  Learn to work smarter, if you don't use a creeper lay on a piece of cardboard, you'll slide easier than just being on concrete. Roll on to your hands and knees to get up, I learned that trick when I fell off the creeper. And if you really need help tie a rope to something so you can pull yourself out from under the car. Figure out a way to get it done. My problem is that I refuse to accept my age. I still think I'm 30 something. Seriously though do what you are capable of and don't hurt yourself. We would joke about getting old and rewinding the motors of our electric wheelchairs and adding wheelie bars and racing around the nursing home.
Title: Re: when we can no longer wrench... :)
Post by: MyRed67 on March 15, 2014, 04:17:32 AM
I'm 66, and I did Ground-up resto on my car when I was 63 - 64.  Of course I had a lot of help.  Got to say I am in prretty darn good health for my age.  I am a firm believer in "object in motion stays in motion" (hope I got that right)  I really try to stay active, even though I am retired.  I love to help my friends work on their cars.  I consider it "therapy".
Title: Re: when we can no longer wrench... :)
Post by: TooManyReels on March 15, 2014, 12:49:45 PM
I agree with some of the other comments that working on cars is getting somewhat harder as we again more maturity and wisdom. However, working and cleaning on our car/toys is a great form of exercise. For example, working underneath a car is like doing push ups and sit ups which strengthens the core. You get to do back exercise by bending over, leg presses/squats by getting up and down, and sometime it can be a complete workout based on what you are doing.

Just don't think about it like going to the Gym, or you will stop working on them.  Make it a part of your weekly exercise program by going out and cleaning on it. Arm movement and walking around a car is a great form of exercise, so make sure you dust it at least two or three times a week. You might even be able to convince your family to come and exercise with you provided you sell it, the right way.

It doesn't work for me, because my wife could care less about cleaning on my cars since she is already in better shape than me. Use this activity as mean to stay in shape just by working on them and continue to be safe.
TMR
Title: Re: when we can no longer wrench... :)
Post by: z28z11 on March 15, 2014, 02:30:30 PM
There's a point here - I may be 60, but I feel a lot younger when I'm working on my cars - therapy - always have. But it's a fact of life in two directions; Aging is inevitable, and the average age of First Gen car owners is moving along with our age bracket. A lot of us acquired our Camaros years ago, when they were affordable, and working on your vehicle was a lot easier in terms of actually being able to with common hand tools and a piece of cardboard to lay on. I wouldn't envy an enthusiast trying to get into a Camaro restoration nowadays - it's ferociously expensive compared to what it was. My X77 was $1600.00 when I bought it in '73, the Pace Car was not too bad in '94, the L78 was downright cheap in '96 compared to what it's worth today. I sold my LS5 to afford my '68, so all in all it was not bad either. To replicate what I own in this day and time would be out of reach for me, and probably for a lot of people (otherwise everybody would have one in the garage).

Just my opinion -

Regards,
Steve
Title: Re: when we can no longer wrench... :)
Post by: flat tire on March 17, 2014, 11:49:13 AM
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